North
Carolina is an extraordinary state for rockhounding. A greater variety of minerals, more than 300, have been found in North Carolina
than in any other state. These minerals
include some of the most valuable and unique gems in the world. The largest emerald ever found in North
Carolina was 1,438 carats and was found at Hiddenite, near Statesville. The ‘Carolina Emerald,’ now owned by Tiffany
& Company of New York also was found at Hiddenite in 1970. When cut to 13.14 carats, the stone was
valued at the time at $100,000 and became the largest and finest cut emerald on
the continent. In addition, the State’s
coastal plain is famous for marine fossils.
North Carolina also was the site of the first documented gold discovery
in the United States.

State
Rocks, Gemstones, Minerals, Fossils, & Dinosaurs

Rockhounding Tip: Knowing state rocks, gemstones, minerals,
fossils, and dinosaurs often can be very useful information for
rockhounders. Ordinarily, states with
significant mineral deposits, valuable gemstones, fossils, or unusual or
significant rock occurrences will designate an official state mineral,
rock/stone, gemstone, fossil, or dinosaur to promote interest in the state’s
natural resources, history, tourism, etc. Accordingly, such state symbols often are a valuable
clue as to potential worthwhile rockhounding opportunities.

Granite

State Rock:
Granite (1979) North Carolina
designated granite as its official state rock in 1979. Just outside Mount Airy in Surry County is
the largest open face granite quarry in the world, measuring one mile long and
1,800 feet in width. The granite from this quarry is unblemished, gleaming, and
without interfering seams to mar its splendor. The high quality of this granite allows its
widespread use as a building material, in both industrial and laboratory
applications where super smooth surfaces are necessary.

Emerald

State
Gemstone: Emerald (1973)North Carolina designated emerald as
its official state gemstone in 1973. Emerald is the green variety of beryl. Emerald has long been desired as a gemstone;
the Egyptians were mining it over 4,000 years ago. Emeralds have been found in North Carolina
associated with the green variety of spodumene, hiddenite. In North Carolina, emerald is found near Hiddenite in Alexander County
and southwest of Spruce Pine in Mitchell County.

State Mineral: Gold (2011)North Carolina designated gold as its
official state mineral in 2011. North
Carolina’s gold rush followed a discovery in 1799 by Conrad Reed, a twelve year
old, who found a reportedly seventeen pound gold nugget in Little Meadow Creek
on his family’s farm in Cabarrus County, North Carolina.

Rockhounding
Resources

State-specific rockhounding books (including the books listed here as well as other books), regional rockhounding site guides, and other helpful rockhounding resources are identified - by category - in the Books & Gear section of Gator Girl Rocks with a link to the Gator Girl Rocks Amazon Store where you may easily browse selected resources and securely place an order. Your order will benefit Charity Rocks!

North Carolina State Museum of Natural SciencesRaleigh, North CarolinaThe museum’s ‘Prehistoric North Carolina,’ exhibit focuses on prehistoric life in North
Carolina and throughout the southeastern United States. The exhibits include an skeleton that is the most complete
specimen of its kind on display in the world. The museum also features a rare
fossilized dinosaur heart from a Thescelosaurus.Acrocanthosaurus

Colburn Earth Science MuseumAsheville, North CarolinaThe Colburn Earth Science Museum
exhibits minerals, gems, and fossils.
The museum's gem collection includes more than 1,000 cut gemstones from
around the world, including specimens from North Carolina. The Hall of Minerals features many items from
the Colburn Earth Science Museum's primary collection of more than 4,500
specimens from around the world, including a examples of the more than 350
minerals found in North Carolina such as kyanite, quartz, corundum, beryl,
mica, feldspar and itacolumite, the bending rock.

Aurora Fossil MuseumAurora, North CarolinaThe museum exhibits 15 to 5 million year old
marine fossils from the nearby PCS Aurora Phosphate mine.

Museum of North Carolina MineralsLittle Switzerland, North CarolinaThe Museum of North Carolina Minerals is
located on the Blue Ridge Parkway near one of the most famous gem and mineral
deposits in America. The museum of features interactive displays about the
minerals and gems found in the region as well as the historical importance of
the mining industry to the local economy.

Places
to Visit - Interesting Sites To See

Reed Gold MineMidland, North CarolinaThe Reed Gold Mine is the site of the first
documented gold find in the United States.

Granite QuarryNorth Carolina Granite Corporation – Mount Airy, North
CarolinaSite of the largest open-faced granite quarry
in the world. Visitors can see quarry
operations from the observation deck.

Sliding Rock Recreation AreaPisgah National Forest – near Brevard, North CarolinaSliding Rock is a naturally occurring fifty-foot
waterslide with a seven-foot deep pool on Looking Glass Creek that the US
Forest Service has developed into a recreation area.

Chimney Rock State ParkSoutheast of Asheville, North CarolinaChimney Rock State Park is home to ‘Chimney
Rock,’ a 535-million-year-old granite monolith for which the Park is
named. Chimney Rock is considered one of
the most iconic sites in North Carolina.

Rockhounding
Sites for Children & Families

Almandine GarnetsLittle Pine Garnet Mine – Madison
County, North CarolinaCommercial
(fee access) business. The Little Pine
Garnet Mine is a famous garnet deposit. Three mountain building
stages formed the Appalachian Mountains.
It is believed that the Little Pine matrix was formed during the first
mountain building stage, which would make the garnet crystals in the mine
around 450 million years old. The matrix
is a metamorphic material made up of a chlorite/mica schist. There is some iron and quartz also in the
mix. The majority of the garnet crystals
in the mine are being replaced by the chlorite and mica, this makes them
unsuitable for abrasive or gem material.
The crystals have retained their excellent shape, which makes them much
sought after by local collectors. Some
of the garnets have been distorted during their growth which gives rise to some
unusual shapes.

EmeraldsCrabtree Emerald Mine –
Spruce Pine, North CarolinaCommercial
(fee access) business. The Crabtree
Emerald Mine is located in western North Carolina. The deposit is famous for emeralds and other
minerals.

Staurolite (also known as ‘fairy crosses’)Mason Farm Staurolite Prospect – Brasstown, North
CarolinaCommercial (fee access)
business. The Mason Farm Staurolite
Prospect is located in western North Carolina near Hayesville and is managed by
the Mountain Area Gem & Mineral Association (MAGMA). The mineral staurolite commonly forms cross
shapes.